It began with the ADU Portland scene

Kol took creative home buying to a whole new level. In 2011, he purchased a single family dwelling property, added an ADU in the backyard, then lived in the ADU himself while renting out the main house.

That experience hooked him on the ADU concept. At the time, Kol was employed with the USFS as an environmental planning specialist. Within three years, he was working for himself as an ADU consultant and co-founder of the first tiny house hotel on the planet.

Before long, Kol was an in-demand speaker. He began coaching property owners considering adding an ADU, real estate professionals wanting to know more about ADUs, and builders thinking about getting in on the action.

In a nutshell: when it comes to ADU information, Kol Peterson is the champ. Our aim is to leverage the principles Kol teaches to help you get started on your ADU project.

Let’s get right down to the ADU Q&A.

The graphic (above) is from Kol Peterson’s buildinganadu.com website.

How has the market for ADUs changed over the past few years?

ADUs are growing in popularity in many jurisdictions. ADU awareness has blossomed in Portland for years. Now it’s spilling over to Bend and much of California. Most homeowners at least know what ADUs are in those areas, but that’s not the case anywhere else in the USA.

What does the future of ADU construction look like?

ADUs are just coming into sight. Over the next couple of years, public awareness about ADUs will increase tremendously, and city planning teams will be more and more open to the idea of not just allowing ADUs, but they’ll come out in support of them.

How are ADUs primarily being used today?

According to the only real study yet carried out on ADUs (2013 PSU Accessory Dwelling Unit Survey), about 43 percent of ADUs bring in rental income for the owner. The next largest segment of usage is ADU residence for a family member (nearly 23 percent). Other uses are office space, room for company, and room for friends.

The table (above) is from the 2013 ADU Survey by Portland State University.

What is stopping the construction of more ADUs?

Local ordinances often prohibit ADU construction or ratchet down the guidelines too far to make ADU construction feasible. Many property owners are concerned that allowing ADUs in their neighborhood will lower their property values and create the kinds of problems normally reserved for overcrowded and rental-based areas. There are also concerns over off-street parking glut.

Why should municipalities embrace ADU construction?

ADUs are just beginning as a housing phenomenon in the USA. They are a flexible housing option. From the municipal perspective, ADUs can help make better use of the current land and provide relief from urban sprawl. ADUs allow the current infrastructure to support population growth with minimum additional expense to city and county governments. ADUs can help alleviate the housing crisis.

What are the main topics you cover in your ADU presentations?

The more you plan ahead for your ADU, the smoother the project will be. ADU construction can be complex and challenging. I cover the gamut of ADU-related topics: legal aspects, zoning laws, financing ADUs, designing ADUs, the basics of building an ADU, how to start thinking like a landlord, and more.

Are most ADUs built by contractors or by the property owners?

According to the 2013 ADU Survey, over 82 percent of ADUs are built by contractors and 39.2 percent are owner-built ADUs. For the builder, ADUs aren’t nearly as lucrative as traditional housing.

The graphic above is from the 2013 ADU Survey.

If Kol Peterson is correct, ADU construction will boom and spread. Municipalities will relax regulations and property owners will see the potential long term value of ADUs.

Finding a builder experienced with ADUs won’t be easy, but getting your ADU permit will no longer be an uphill battle.

Instead of fighting against ADUs, local and regional governments will begin encouraging them. The demand is there and the time is here.

For overall information on ADU construction, check Kol Peterson’s site: Building an ADU.

An ADU is an amazing space. You can either live in it, have relatives live in it, or just have it as a guest house. But granny flats are small places, and there’s not much room for anything other than the very basics.

But that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on furniture, storage, or beauty. Let’s talk about how to make an otherwise small space into a wider, more breathable room.

Here’s a list of ideas on how to make your ADU feel bigger, without sacrificing anything.

Build your ADU tall

Here’s a tip for ADU builders we cannot stress enough: BUILD TALL.

What you lack in floor area, you can make up for in height. This added volume to your house can make a lot of difference! It will make your interiors look and feel much bigger than they actually are. You’ll also get more air circulation. Get low sitting furniture to amplify the appearance of more vertical space.

ADU builders should use light colors

There’s a reason why so many ADUs are painted white. White, as well as any other light color, makes a place look much bigger than it actually is because our eyes are used to smaller places being drab and dark. With lighter paint, you can create the illusion of a wider room.

ADU furniture for space

Make your furniture fill the room. This may seem contradictory, but it’s true: bigger furniture gives the illusion of more space. Smaller furniture projects a more cramped and cluttered look … and you surely don’t want that for your ADU.